The city of Cincinnati will cut $127,400 in funding for three senior centers next year — resulting in the likely closure of at least two of the centers — because the programs providing meals for the elderly aren't “innovative” enough.

        And while some City Council members lament that the cuts will hurt those least able to provide for themselves, city officials say it's City Council's own policy — passed in 1999 — that requires the change.

        “The policy that City Council made was that we will not fund the "general operation' of programs. This is not a commentary on the value or the need for the program,” Community Development Director Peg Moertl told City Council's Health Committee on Tuesday.

        “These are excellent programs. That's not a question. It's a question of not having enough resources to provide all the needs of the community.”

        Under the city's 21-year-old Human Services Policy, 1.5 percent of the city's general fund (about $4.8 million) is earmarked for social services. The Department of Community Development awards the grants based on policy criteria from City Council.

        In 1999, City Council changed the policy to concentrate spending on four areas: the homeless, youth, people with disabilities, and existing programs that can show “realignment and innovation.”

        According to an Aug. 7 city memo, “Traditional senior center programs are not considered innovative. Therefore, support for such programs was eliminated as a priority.”

        Without the city support, two 30-year-old centers — in Over-the-Rhine and Mount Auburn — would be forced to close, said Elizabeth A. Patterson, director of the Cincinnati Area Senior Services Inc. A third center, in North Fairmount, would also be affected.

        “We have people who have come since 1972. They're in their 90s now,” she said. “They come every day, and we serve them both breakfast and lunch. And, no, it's not innovative. But that's what they need.”

        City Manager Valerie A. Lemmie suggested that senior services levy funds pick up the cost of the programs. Hamilton County voters will see a 1.16-mill replacement and increase levy for senior services on the Nov. 5 ballot.

        But senior service agencies said that money — which pays for home health care, transportation and home-delivered meals — was never intended to provide the same services the senior centers provide.

        “It's a crime that these centers are ignored,” said Bob Logan, director of the Council on Aging for Southwest Ohio. “When you're 85 years old, do you know what happens to your friends? They die.”

        And without those friends, he said, the elderly become lonely and isolated. A growing body of scientific research has found that older adults who stay active and well fed are less likely to fall victim to Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

        Councilman David Crowley said senior centers aren't just places for old people to play canasta. They provide meals, a cool (or warm) place to stay, and human interaction that can help keep older citizens mentally alert.

        “It's not a sexy program. It doesn't make anyone's priority list, other than the people providing the service,” he said. “It's time to revisit this, starting today. It's time to talk about the potential of senior centers, and the problems with senior centers.”

        Councilman David Pepper said the city needs to rethink its policy. While many philanthropic foundations reward innovation, the city should be in the business of providing basic services — not reinventing them, he said.

        City Council's Health Committee asked the city administration Tuesday to provide more information on what the city spends for senior programs in other departments, like Health and Recreation.

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